×Heucherella plant named ‘Pink Fizz’

ABSTRACT

The new hybrid × Heucherella  plant named ‘Pink Fizz’ with moderately palmately lobed foliage mint-green with a chocolate wine underlay following the main veins. × Heucherella  ‘Pink Fizz’ produces numerous tightly arranged panicles just over the foliage, with sterile pink flowers from late spring through summer and exhibits good heat and humidity tolerance.

Botanical denomination: ×Heucherella (Heuchera×Tiarella).

Cultivar designation: ‘Pink Fizz’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct intergeneric hybridbetween Coral Bells and Foam Flower, both in the Saxifragaceae familyand given the cultivar name of ‘Pink Fizz’ with the combined genericepithet ×Heucherella. ×Heucherella ‘Pink Fizz’ resulted from anintentional cross between Heuchera ‘Milan’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,682 asthe female or seed parent and a proprietary unreleased seedling TiarellaK10-20 (not patented) as the male or pollen parent. The new plant wasoriginally given the breeder code of H11-88-05 and was hybridized byHans A. Hansen at a nursery in Zeeland, Mich., USA on Jun. 27, 2011 andharvested on Aug. 8, 2011. The new plant was selected from among manyother crosses and Heucherella seedlings growing at the perennial nurseryin Zeeland, Mich. which met the rigorous criteria of excellent foliage,flower and habit established as breeding goals. ×Heucherella ‘Pink Fizz’has been asexually propagated by division of the rhizome at a nursery inZeeland, Mich. and also by careful tissue culture propagation. Theresultant asexually propagated plants have remained stable and exhibitthe same characteristics as the original plant.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

×Heucherella ‘Pink Fizz’ differs from its parents as well as all other×Heucherella known to the applicant. The most similar cultivars include:×Heucherella ‘Gunsmoke’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,395, ×Heucherella‘Tapestry’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,150 and ×Heucherella ‘Dayglow Pink’U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,164.

Compared to ‘Gunsmoke’, the new plant has more mint-green foliageearlier in the season, has more pinkish flowers on shorter, more compactpanicles. The leaf blades of ‘Pink Fizz’ are also less deeply dissectedthan ‘Gunsmoke’. The foliage color of ‘Gunsmoke’ is much darker greenthan the mint green of ×Heucherella ‘Pink Fizz’.

×Heucherella ‘Tapestry’ has foliage with more chartreuse base, with morepronounced color of dark burgundy in the center palm, and the blades aremore dissected. The flowers on ‘Tapestry’ are more separated and onlonger panicles.

×Heucherella ‘Dayglow Pink’ has panicles of similar height with simlarlydark pink flowers, but the foliage is nearly solid chartreuse and notthe mint-green with the inner palm of chocolate wine coloring.

Compared to the female parent, Heuchera ‘Milan’ with mahogany foliagewith silver overlay, the new plant has more deeply dissected foliagewith more mint-green coloration in the early in the season and burgundyor chocolate wine coloring in the center of the lobes, the flowers arelighter pink and panicles much shorter. Compared to the proprietarypollen parent, K-10-20, the new plant has more mint-green coloring inthe foliage and less dissected leaf blades. The flower color of the maleparent is white, whereas the overall flower color of ‘Pink Fizz’ ispink.

Further comparisons from these and other ×Heucherella cultivars withtheir corresponding U.S. Plant Patent numbers are shown in the tablebelow:

TABLE 1 CULTIVAR DISSECTION HABIT LEAF COLOR ‘Alabama Sunrise’ moderatemounding yellow to lime U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,611 ‘Brass Lantern’moderate mounding brassy U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,396 ‘Burnished Bronze’deeply mounding brown purple U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,159 ‘Chocolate Lace’deeply mounding bronze U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,701 ‘Dayglow Pink’moderate mounding green U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,164 ‘Golden Zebra’ deeplymounding yellow U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,104 ‘Gunsmoke’ deeply moundingpurple with silver U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,395 ‘Heart of Darkness’shallow mounding green U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,489 ‘Kimono’ deeplymounding green U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,154 ‘Leapfrog’ (co-pending)shallow mounding yellow to lime ‘Pink Fizz’ moderate mounding mint green‘Quicksilver’ shallow mounding bronze with silver U.S. Plant Pat. No.11,081 ‘Redstone Falls’ moderate trailing reddish U.S. Plant Pat. No.22,394 ‘Solar Eclipse’ shallow mounding yellow to lime U.S. Plant Pat.No. 23,647 ‘Solar Power’ moderate mounding yellow to lime U.S. PlantPat. No. 22,427 ‘Sunrise Falls’ deeply trailing yellow to lime U.S.Plant Pat. No. 23,666 ‘Sweet Tea’ moderate mounding rose orange U.S.Plant Pat. No. 21,296 ‘Tapestry’ deeply mounding green U.S. Plant Pat.No. 21,150 ‘Yellowstone Falls’ shallow trailing yellow to lime U.S.Plant Pat. No. 22,313 CULTIVAR MARGIN WIDTH FLOWER COLOR ‘AlabamaSunrise’ wide white U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,611 ‘Brass Lantern’ widewhite U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,396 ‘Burnished Bronze’ none pink U.S. PlantPat. No. 12,159 ‘Chocolate Lace’ none white U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,701‘Dayglow Pink’ moderate pink U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,164 ‘Golden Zebra’wide white U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,104 ‘Gunsmoke’ none white U.S. PlantPat. No. 22,395 ‘Heart of Darkness’ wide white U.S. Plant Pat. No.14,489 ‘Kimono’ wide cream U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,154 ‘Leapfrog’(co-pending) moderate white ‘Pink Fizz’ wide pink ‘Quicksilver’ nonewhite U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,081 ‘Redstone Falls’ wide white U.S. PlantPat. No. 22,394 ‘Solar Eclipse’ narrow white U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,647‘Solar Power’ wide white U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,427 ‘Sunrise Falls’moderate white U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,666 ‘Sweet Tea’ narrow white U.S.Plant Pat. No. 21,296 ‘Tapestry’ wide pink U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,150‘Yellowstone Falls’ moderate white U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,313

The margin width being used in the table above as the portion of theleaf blade between the leaf edge and the generally darker portionsurrounding the veins; where described as “none” there is no darkerburgundy surrounding the veins. Leaf color as used in the table above isthe outer portion of the leaf and not the venation or darker portionsometimes surrounding or near the vein.

The new plant differs from all Heuchera, ×Heucherella and Tiarella knownto the inventor in the following combined traits:

-   -   1. The foliage color of ×Heucherella ‘Pink Fizz’ during most of        the growing season is mint-green with a chocolate wine underlay        following the main veins.    -   2. The leaf blade shape is moderately lobed with the middle lobe        predominant.    -   3. The pink flowers are tightly arranged on panicles just over        the foliage with repeat flowering over an extended period from        late spring through summer.    -   4. Habit is mounded with multiple tightly clustered shoots        emerging at the base all season.    -   5. The plant is robust, seedless, compact and is more heat and        sun tolerant than typical ×Heucherella.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The photographs of the new plant demonstrate the overall appearance ofthe plant including the unique traits. The plant in the photograph is ofa two-year old plant grown in a double-poly coated greenhouse withoutfurther shading, with supplemental fertilizer and water as needed at awholesale perennial nursery in Zeeland, Mich., USA. The colors are asaccurate as reasonably possible with color reproductions. Some slightvariation of color may occur as a result of lighting quality, intensity,wavelength, and direction or reflection.

FIG. 1 shows a close-up of the foliage and flower buds.

FIG. 2 shows the habit of the plant in mid-season coloration in flower.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description is based on two-year old plants growing indouble poly greenhouse with supplemental water and fertilizer at awholesale perennial nursery in Zeeland, Mich., USA as well as three-yearold outdoor trial garden grown plants for seasonal foliage colorationcomparisons. The new plant has not been grown under all possibleenvironments and may phenotypically appear different under differentconditions such as light, temperatures, fertilizer, and water, withoutany difference in genotype. The color descriptions are from the 2001edition of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except wherecommon dictionary terms are used.

-   Parentage: Heuchera ‘Milan’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,682 the female    (seed parent); Tiarella K10-20 (not patented) — male (pollen).-   Plant habit: Hardy herbaceous perennial of tightly compact rhizomes    with basal rosette of mounded foliage; foliage about 15 cm tall and    50 cm in diameter.-   Roots: Fibrous, finely branched; when actively growing near white in    color depending on soil type.-   Growth rate: Rapid, rooting from cutting in 2 weeks and finishing in    three-liter container in about 3 months; beginning to flower in 6 to    8 weeks following a 9 week vernalization.-   Foliage: Leaf blade — sparsely hirsutulous above and below;    palmately lobed, lobes dissected to less than one third of the way    to mid-point; matte surface above and below; rounded lobe apices and    cordate base; blade to about 11.0 cm long and 10.0 cm wide, average    about 8.0 cm long and 9.0 cm wide; with a dark pigment running on    the central portion of the lobes expanding in width and density from    undertone to solid pattern as foliage matures though season; center    lobe to about 4.5 cm long, average about 3.2 cm long and about 50%    larger than the length of the next largest side lobes; cauline    leaves at first or second nodes directly below lowest flowers,    decreasing in size distally; foliage margin indentation is medium.    -   -   Foliage color.—Leaf color is seasonally variable; spring            young emerging leaves adaxial surface nearest RHS N144C with            a center inner palm pigmenting of nearest RHS 187B; abaxial            spring emerging leaves nearest RHS 144B with inner palm            pigmentation of nearest RHS 187C; at first showing of flower            buds and until summer heat adaxial blades within 2 mm either            side of veins nearest RHS N187A and radiating away from            veins between RHS N187B and RHS N187C to a maximum width of            about 8.5 mm, and outer (marginal) adaxial portion between            RHS 138B and RHS 138C; at first showing of flower buds and            until summer heat abaxial blades near veins between RHS 138B            and RHS 138C with undertones of nearest RHS N187B and outer            blade portion between RHS 138B and RHS 138C; mid-season            adaxial mid-portion near veins between RHS N186B and RHS            N187A and outer portion between RHS 148B, RHS 148C and RHS            191B; mid-season abaxial mid-portion near veins nearest RHS            148D with broad section having undertones of nearest RHS            N187B and outer portion between RHS 148D and RHS 146D;            overwintered leaves in spring adaxial portion near veins            nearest RHS N187A and outer portion between RHS N138C and            RHS 138B with tinting of RHS 187B; overwintered leaves            abaxial variable between RHS 185B and RHS 186A with green            undertones of RHS 138A.        -   Leaf margin.—Crenate to serrate, hirsutulous.        -   Leaf apex.—Obtuse to cuspidate; hirsutulous.        -   Leaf base.—Cordate with frequently overlapping lobes.        -   Leaf surface.—Sparsely hirsutulous both above and below.        -   Leaf quantity.—Dens; about seven per division and 250 per            plant.        -   Veins.—Palmate, hirsutulous below and sparsely hirsutulous            above.        -   Vein color.—Adaxial early expanding foliage nearest RHS 145C            and abaxial between RHS 145C and RHS 145D; at time of            beginning flowering adaxial main veins nearest RHS 145B and            outer smaller veins between RHS 144A and RHS 144B; at time            of beginning flowering abaxial main veins between RHS 145B            and RHS 145C; mid-summer adaxial veins between RHS N144D and            RHS 145C and abaxial main veins nearest RHS 145C with            secondary veins between RHS 147A and RHS 146A; overwintered            adaxial veins between RHS 194A and RHS 160D and overwintered            abaxial main veins nearest RHS 147D with light tinting of            RHS 181B and abaxial secondary veins nearest RHS 139A.-   Petiole: Cylindrical, hirsutulous, average about 12.0 cm long and    2.5 mm diameter at base; wiry but flexible.    -   -   Petiole color.—On emerging foliage between RHS 144C and RHS            N144D; mid-flowering season and later nearest RHS 144C; on            overwintered foliage nearest RHS 146D with tinting of            nearest RHS 185A.-   Inflorescence: In compacted panicle or branched raceme, about 60    racemes per plant; about 60 flowers per raceme; first raceme    flowering beginning in late spring with repeat racemes flowering    until fall; individual racemes remaining in flower for about two and    a half weeks; individual flowers remaining open about three to four    days; flower attitude mostly outwards.-   Fragrance: None detected.-   Peduncle: Round in cross section; glandular, hirsutulous; about 38    cm tall and 3.0 mm diameter at base; with cauline leaves at one to    two nodes directly below lowest flowers and dehiscent bracts at    lowest one or two nodes; flowering portion about 13.5 cm long and    5.5 cm across.    -   -   Peduncle attitude.—Upright; erect.        -   Peduncle branches.—In lower two thirds of peduncle with            average of 3.5 flowers per branch; branches about 2.5 cm            long and about 1.5 mm diameter at base.        -   Peduncle color.—Between RHS 145C and RHS145D in lowest            portion, nearest RHS 144B in middle portion and nearest RHS            176B with green undertone of nearest RHS 144A in upper            portion.-   Cauline leaves: Average 3.5 cm across and 4.0 cm long with petioles    about 2.8 cm long and 1.5 mm diameter a base, color of cauline    leaves and petioles same as other foliage with less pronounced or no    burgundy centers.-   Dehiscent lower bracts: Lanceolate, sessile, acute apex, truncate    base, entire margin, about 1.2 mm long and 5.0 mm across at    peduncle; color before dehiscing nearest RHS N155B along center vein    and nearest RHS 155C and translucent along margin.-   Pedicel: Round in cross section; glandular, hirsutulous; about 2.0    mm long and 0.8 mm in diameter.    -   -   Pedicel color.—Nearest RHS 183C with green undertones of            nearest RHS 137C becoming more greyed purple with more            light.-   Bracts at peduncle branches: Mostly lobed, lanceolate, acute apex    and sessile base; lower bracts about 6.0 mm long and 2.0 mm wide at    widest point in center decreasing in size distally.    -   -   Bract color.—Proximal bracts abaxial and adaxial between RHS            138B and RHS 138A with no noticeable center burgundy tinting            nearest RHS 187B on lobe apexes; distal bracts on both            abaxial and adaxial surfaces nearest RHS 185A with green            undertones along the center vein of nearest RHS 138A.-   Buds one day prior to opening: Slightly oblong, about 3.5 mm long    and 3.0 mm diameter.    -   -   Bud color.—Between RHS 185C and RHS 186A.-   Flower: Perfect, campanulate; about 7.0 mm deep and 9.0 mm in    diameter at face; individual flowers lasting about three to four    days on plant or as cut raceme.-   Calyx: Five sepals; glandular outside, glabrous inside; apex acute,    fused at base into bypanthium; margin entire; sepals about 6.5 mm    long extending about 3.5 mm beyond point of fusion and about 2.5 mm    wide at point of fusion, calyx about 5.0 mm across and 5.5 mm deep.    -   -   Calyx color.—Adaxial between RHS 186C and RHS 64C; abaxial            nearest RHS 64D and darkening to between RHS 64D and RHS 64C            at apex.-   Petals: Five; adnate to calyx; spatulate, narrowly acute apex,    attenuate base; margin entire; puberulent outside and glabrous    inside; about 5.0 mm long and 1.5 mm wide.    -   -   Petal color.—Abaxial lighter than RHS N155D; adaxial near            white, lighter than RHS N155D.-   Androecium:    -   -   Filaments.—Up to ten, thin, about 3.5 mm long and less than            0.5 mm in diameter; color white, lighter than RHS N155D.        -   Anthers.—Basifixed; oblong to nearly 0.5 mm long and less            than half as wide; color between RHS 20A and RHS 163B.        -   Pollen.—Not observed under present conditions.-   Gynoecium:    -   -   Pistil.—One central two-beaked pistil, about 5.0 mm long and            0.2 mm at apex flaring to 2.0 mm at base; color nearest RHS            155D.        -   Stigma.—Minute, about 0.2 mm diameter; color nearest RHS            155D.        -   Ovary.—Two carpels; ovoid, apex tapering to meet style;            rounded base and sides; about 2.0 mm across at base and 2.5            mm tall; color nearest RHS 155D.-   Fruit and seed: Not observed.-   Disease and pest tolerance: ×Heucherella ‘Pink Fizz’ grows best with    ample moisture and good drainage in part shade or protection from    sun in the hottest part of the day. Cold hardy from USDA zones 4    to 9. ×Heucherella ‘Pink Fizz’ is able to tolerate heat and humidity    better than many ×Heucherella. Other pest and disease resistance and    tolerance outside of that normal for ×Heucherella is not known.

I claim:
 1. The new and distinct ornamental plant named ×Heucherella‘Pink Fizz’ as herein described and illustrated with seasonally variablycolored foliage and numerous pink flowers on short compact panicles overa long period of time, with improved heat tolerance suitable forlandscaping or as an ornamental container plant.